100:00:00,040 –> 00:00:03,200Gordon Romeron200:00:03,400 –> 00:00:05,720God made a great promise in the Old Testament.300:00:05,920 –> 00:00:08,760He said even to your old age and to your400:00:08,960 –> 00:00:14,600grey hairs, God said, I am he who will sustain you, so if you are caring500:00:14,800 –> 00:00:22,799for an elderly person, you are reflecting the promise and the heart of God.600:00:23,000 –> 00:00:25,760Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:25,799 –> 00:00:28,280I’m David Pick, glad you could join us today.800:00:28,360 –> 00:00:29,879And Colin, many of us are at a time900:00:30,080 –> 00:00:33,160when in life when we’re caring for elderly parents1000:00:33,360 –> 00:00:37,560and that’s a great opportunity, isn’t it, to show the heart of God?1100:00:37,759 –> 00:00:39,040Yeah, that’s exactly right.1200:00:39,240 –> 00:00:40,680I mean, it’s the promise of God.1300:00:40,880 –> 00:00:43,119He says, I will sustain you.1400:00:43,320 –> 00:00:45,720But then God works through means and1500:00:45,919 –> 00:00:51,320the means that he uses are family and friends and the church.1600:00:51,439 –> 00:00:53,360That’s what we’re looking at in 1st Timothy1700:00:53,560 –> 00:00:57,240in chapter five for anyone who is caring for another person,1800:00:57,240 –> 00:01:01,040whether you’re caring for a child, you’re caring for an elderly person,1900:01:01,240 –> 00:01:05,599someone who has particular needs, and you’re giving yourself to a Ministry2000:01:05,800 –> 00:01:09,959of compassion to someone who is vulnerable, someone who has great needs.2100:01:10,160 –> 00:01:14,360You are reflecting the heart of God, and I hope that you’re going to be2200:01:14,360 –> 00:01:17,000encouraged in the work that you’re doing today.2300:01:17,120 –> 00:01:18,800I think you will be encouraged when you2400:01:19,000 –> 00:01:21,760hear from God’s word, it’s 1st Timothy, chapter 5.2500:01:21,959 –> 00:01:24,839As we continue the message, gospel compassion.2600:01:25,040 –> 00:01:26,239Here is Pastor Colin.2700:01:26,440 –> 00:01:31,360As the family of God, we are to be sensitive and compassionate2800:01:31,559 –> 00:01:36,760towards particular needs within the body of Christ.2900:01:37,720 –> 00:01:40,800Let me give this word of encouragement.3000:01:42,160 –> 00:01:46,000There are many in our congregation.3100:01:46,239 –> 00:01:49,400Who are doing an amazing job,3200:01:49,599 –> 00:01:55,519caring, for elderly parents, caring for grandparents.3300:01:55,519 –> 00:01:57,480I want you to hear this today.3400:01:57,680 –> 00:02:03,320Your ministry is a reflection of the heart of God.3500:02:03,519 –> 00:02:05,279It really is.3600:02:05,440 –> 00:02:10,880Paul says, this is pleasing to God.3700:02:11,080 –> 00:02:14,160It is a ministry that brings a reflection3800:02:14,360 –> 00:02:19,639of Christ and a touch of the Holy Spirit.3900:02:19,839 –> 00:02:23,119You know, God made a great promise in the Old Testament.4000:02:23,160 –> 00:02:27,440He said even to your old age and to your gray hairs, God said,4100:02:27,639 –> 00:02:29,479I am He who will sustain you.4200:02:29,679 –> 00:02:32,199So if you are caring4300:02:32,399 –> 00:02:34,919for an elderly person.4400:02:35,119 –> 00:02:42,000You are reflecting the promise and the heart of God.4500:02:42,199 –> 00:02:44,800This is not a small thing.4600:02:45,000 –> 00:02:49,479Visitation, care, help, compassion.4700:02:49,800 –> 00:02:56,119A reflection of the heart of Jesus Christ.4800:02:56,600 –> 00:03:00,279God’s first provision is through the family4900:03:00,479 –> 00:03:04,919and then God’s first priority is a godly life.5000:03:05,119 –> 00:03:07,360I want you to see the second principle here.5100:03:07,559 –> 00:03:08,479It’s very important.5200:03:08,679 –> 00:03:14,240Look at verse five and six, Paul describes here two kinds of widow.5300:03:14,440 –> 00:03:15,919And do you notice the contrast?5400:03:16,119 –> 00:03:18,080He talks about one who puts her hope5500:03:18,080 –> 00:03:23,520in God, and then he talks about another who lives for pleasure.5600:03:23,720 –> 00:03:25,919The widow who is really in need and left5700:03:26,119 –> 00:03:28,520all alone puts her hope in God and continues5800:03:28,720 –> 00:03:31,559night and day to pray and to ask God for help.5900:03:31,759 –> 00:03:37,960But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.6000:03:38,160 –> 00:03:41,160It’s talking about spiritual death there.6100:03:41,440 –> 00:03:45,320Now, this introduces a second and also very important consideration6200:03:45,639 –> 00:03:50,279in discerning how we should help a person in need.6300:03:51,039 –> 00:03:58,880The church should not give in a way that supports or enables an ungodly lifestyle.6400:03:59,080 –> 00:04:01,160And so it’s right to ask a question as6500:04:01,360 –> 00:04:04,880we’re seeking to discern what we should do in any situation.6600:04:05,080 –> 00:04:10,199Is this person committed to pursue a godly life?6700:04:10,399 –> 00:04:12,520So here are two very practical questions6800:04:12,559 –> 00:04:15,839that we should consider when we’re faced with a situation of need.6900:04:16,040 –> 00:04:20,519What provision has God already made for this person?7000:04:20,720 –> 00:04:26,959And what commitment has this person already made with regards to God?7100:04:27,160 –> 00:04:29,160And Paul is making it clear7200:04:29,359 –> 00:04:32,720that although the family responsibility comes first,7300:04:32,920 –> 00:04:39,720there will be times when God provides for his people through the kindness7400:04:39,880 –> 00:04:43,959that is expressed within the body of the local church.7500:04:44,160 –> 00:04:48,839When the family is not there or when the family isn’t interested,7600:04:49,040 –> 00:04:56,359there is the family of God and we are God’s household.7700:04:56,559 –> 00:04:59,119Now, folks, that’s the teaching that we have here.7800:04:59,320 –> 00:05:01,160And I want you to know that this kind7900:05:01,359 –> 00:05:09,320of ministry happens regularly at the Orchard because of your kindness.8000:05:09,559 –> 00:05:14,600Every week when we leave from the Communion Table,8100:05:14,799 –> 00:05:18,519we have an opportunity to give to the Benevolent Fund,8200:05:18,720 –> 00:05:23,160which is used to help people in need.8300:05:23,359 –> 00:05:28,440And I want to read some extracts just from four letters that I’ve chosen.8400:05:28,640 –> 00:05:32,640Letters that have been received by different members of our pastoral staff8500:05:32,799 –> 00:05:35,320from folks in the congregation who really8600:05:35,519 –> 00:05:39,559were in exactly the situation of 1 Timothy 5.5.8700:05:39,760 –> 00:05:42,279They were putting their hope in God.8800:05:42,480 –> 00:05:45,600They were asking God for help,8900:05:45,799 –> 00:05:49,839and they found that God answered their prayers through a ministry that came9000:05:50,040 –> 00:05:53,880from your kindness in the body of Christ.9100:05:54,079 –> 00:05:58,119I want you to notice as I read these four testimonies to you,9200:05:58,279 –> 00:06:00,839that each of these folks9300:06:01,040 –> 00:06:04,519saw what they received from others9400:06:04,720 –> 00:06:09,279as being a gift that came from the hand of God himself.9500:06:09,480 –> 00:06:11,760That’s the joy of Christian giving, isn’t it?9600:06:11,959 –> 00:06:14,760The people would discern in the kindness9700:06:14,959 –> 00:06:19,399of believers that God himself,9800:06:19,600 –> 00:06:25,880the Father, is, through his own children, caring for their needs.9900:06:26,079 –> 00:06:29,040Let me just read to you then.10000:06:29,600 –> 00:06:35,279First, please accept my sincere appreciation10100:06:35,480 –> 00:06:38,839for your help with some of my medical bills.10200:06:39,040 –> 00:06:42,600It was definitely a gift from God.10300:06:42,799 –> 00:06:45,320But it was extended by the church.10400:06:45,519 –> 00:06:47,519And I appreciate all involved, God10500:06:47,720 –> 00:06:51,640bless you for all your generosity and thank you.10600:06:51,839 –> 00:06:53,160Here’s another.10700:06:53,399 –> 00:06:55,440I want to thank you so much for your part10800:06:55,640 –> 00:06:58,559in helping me get a replacement car.10900:06:58,760 –> 00:07:01,040I am so grateful to God for the person who11000:07:01,239 –> 00:07:04,160donated the car to the church11100:07:04,359 –> 00:07:06,279and to you.11200:07:06,480 –> 00:07:08,160Here’s another one.11300:07:08,359 –> 00:07:10,760As you know, my family and I have been11400:07:10,959 –> 00:07:14,600through some very hard times these past few years.11500:07:14,799 –> 00:07:17,239I truly never expected this church to receive11600:07:17,440 –> 00:07:20,720my family and I as openly as it did.11700:07:21,000 –> 00:07:23,600But that it would help us without hesitation11800:07:23,799 –> 00:07:26,480financially the way it did was something11900:07:26,679 –> 00:07:29,119that left me speechless.12000:07:29,320 –> 00:07:31,839The benevolent fund aid that we received from the Orchard12100:07:32,040 –> 00:07:34,519came at a time in my life that I sincerely12200:07:34,720 –> 00:07:37,600could not see a way out.12300:07:37,799 –> 00:07:41,119We were in an extremely desperate situation.12400:07:41,320 –> 00:07:43,640That wonderful ministry was made available to ask12500:07:43,839 –> 00:07:47,839before anyone here even knew our names.12600:07:48,040 –> 00:07:50,679You and the church were the Good Samaritan and I and my family12700:07:50,880 –> 00:07:52,760were the victim on the side of the road12800:07:52,959 –> 00:07:56,239where many had passed us by and looked the other way.12900:07:56,440 –> 00:07:58,600I thank God for never abandoning us13000:07:58,799 –> 00:08:01,239during the darkest hours.13100:08:01,440 –> 00:08:04,559It is by his grace and never ending mercy13200:08:04,760 –> 00:08:06,679that we have persevered.13300:08:06,880 –> 00:08:09,160There is a heart filling gratitude that13400:08:09,359 –> 00:08:11,799I feel toward this church and all those13500:08:12,000 –> 00:08:14,399who give to the benevolent fund that I13600:08:14,600 –> 00:08:18,600simply cannot put into words.13700:08:18,799 –> 00:08:20,600Here’s another.13800:08:20,799 –> 00:08:23,440This letter was addressed to13900:08:23,640 –> 00:08:26,600the Intercessory Prayer Team.14000:08:26,799 –> 00:08:30,320I want to thank you for your prayers.14100:08:30,519 –> 00:08:32,760I had lost my job and it took over a year14200:08:32,960 –> 00:08:35,840to find another full-time position.14300:08:36,039 –> 00:08:38,359I went through all my savings during that time and14400:08:38,559 –> 00:08:40,799could only rely on God to help me through14500:08:41,000 –> 00:08:44,280this very terrifying time.14600:08:44,479 –> 00:08:48,359I have a teenage daughter and it got very tough for us.14700:08:48,539 –> 00:08:51,400The church was my safety net.14800:08:51,599 –> 00:08:56,679I had gotten to a point that I had no money and no job.14900:08:56,880 –> 00:08:59,640When I mean I had no money, I mean15000:08:59,840 –> 00:09:03,080I had some change in my pocket and that was it.15100:09:03,280 –> 00:09:05,520During this time, God showed me who15200:09:05,719 –> 00:09:09,719he was and I found fellowship in the church.15300:09:09,919 –> 00:09:12,200At first it was very hard to tell people about15400:09:12,400 –> 00:09:14,640my situation, she writes.15500:09:14,880 –> 00:09:17,280Money and no job has some shame15600:09:17,479 –> 00:09:21,679in it, she says, but God did not let me go.15700:09:21,880 –> 00:09:24,159He provided church members who were generous,15800:09:24,359 –> 00:09:28,419some anonymously and the Benevolent Fund.15900:09:28,640 –> 00:09:31,280Many times after that,16000:09:31,479 –> 00:09:34,039when my gas tank was low16100:09:34,239 –> 00:09:36,919and there was very little food, I would check my mail16200:09:37,119 –> 00:09:39,559and there would be an envelope from someone,16300:09:39,760 –> 00:09:42,159maybe a friend, but many times from someone who did16400:09:42,400 –> 00:09:45,440not sign their name with money.16500:09:45,640 –> 00:09:48,640The card would just say, God loves you.16600:09:48,840 –> 00:09:51,719And with tears, I would thank God.16700:09:51,919 –> 00:09:54,039My situation has changed.16800:09:54,239 –> 00:09:57,320I now have a full-time job with great benefits.16900:09:57,520 –> 00:09:59,919I’m not out of the woods financially as of yet.17000:10:00,119 –> 00:10:02,760But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.17100:10:02,960 –> 00:10:05,119It is because of people’s prayers,17200:10:05,320 –> 00:10:07,880the Benevolent Fund and God’s mercy and grace17300:10:08,080 –> 00:10:10,719that I’m where I am now.17400:10:10,960 –> 00:10:12,840I now know that every breath I take and17500:10:13,039 –> 00:10:16,719every step I make is because of our awesome God.17600:10:16,919 –> 00:10:20,919And I praise Him.17700:10:22,719 –> 00:10:25,799It is a wonderful thing folks.17800:10:26,000 –> 00:10:28,559A wonderful thing to be in the kind17900:10:28,760 –> 00:10:32,559of ministry that God calls us to pursue.18000:10:32,760 –> 00:10:37,080To be part of the body of Christ.18100:10:37,239 –> 00:10:40,320Whose life will you touch today?18200:10:41,119 –> 00:10:43,119Who will experience the help of God18300:10:43,320 –> 00:10:46,359through your kindness this week?18400:10:47,280 –> 00:10:49,919Responding to the promptings of the Holy18500:10:50,119 –> 00:10:55,200Spirit so that a person in need would experience the provision of God is a18600:10:55,400 –> 00:10:59,960wonderful ministry that glorifies Him.18700:11:01,159 –> 00:11:02,840Thank God for it.18800:11:03,039 –> 00:11:05,280We’ve been hearing how to cultivate a18900:11:05,280 –> 00:11:09,679culture of caring and when we come back in a moment we’ll hear about cultivating19000:11:09,919 –> 00:11:11,559a culture of serving.19100:11:11,760 –> 00:11:13,359You’re listening to Open the Bible with19200:11:13,559 –> 00:11:17,039Pastor Colin Smith and a message called Gospel Compassion,19300:11:17,239 –> 00:11:21,679part of the series 10 Distinctives of a Gospel Centered Church,19400:11:21,880 –> 00:11:25,440and if you’ve missed any of the series, you can catch up or go back and listen19500:11:25,640 –> 00:11:27,840again by coming online to our website19600:11:28,239 –> 00:11:30,320openthebible.org.uk19700:11:30,799 –> 00:11:33,000or you can find us as a podcast on all19800:11:33,080 –> 00:11:37,239nine podcast sites by searching for Open The Bible UK.19900:11:37,440 –> 00:11:38,280Back to the message.20000:11:38,479 –> 00:11:40,599Now, here again is Pastor Colin.20100:11:40,799 –> 00:11:43,320God calls us to cultivate a culture20200:11:43,520 –> 00:11:48,520of caring and a culture of serving,20300:11:48,719 –> 00:11:54,000and these two go together and you find serving, especially in verses 9 through 16,20400:11:54,200 –> 00:11:58,080a caring church is going to be a church,20500:11:58,400 –> 00:12:02,880a community of people who serve one another well.20600:12:03,080 –> 00:12:07,640And this theme really is the focus of verses nine through sixteen.20700:12:07,840 –> 00:12:09,760And I want you to notice what I believe20800:12:09,960 –> 00:12:12,719is a move from one subject to another.20900:12:12,919 –> 00:12:16,960So watch this carefully with me in verse three.21000:12:17,159 –> 00:12:19,080We read about widows who are to be21100:12:19,280 –> 00:12:25,239recognized, that is honored and clearly supported.21200:12:25,520 –> 00:12:28,239But in verse nine, Paul speaks about widows21300:12:28,440 –> 00:12:31,000who are to be enrolled or to be registered.21400:12:31,200 –> 00:12:33,719He talks particularly here about a list.21500:12:33,919 –> 00:12:36,320Do you see that in verse nine?21600:12:36,520 –> 00:12:40,520Now the question that’s raised of course is, is this a list of widows21700:12:40,719 –> 00:12:47,599who are being supported by the church, or is this referring to something else?21800:12:47,799 –> 00:12:50,520Now, the qualification for being on the21900:12:50,520 –> 00:12:56,039list is quite clearly different from the qualifications of those who are22000:12:56,239 –> 00:12:59,200receiving support earlier in the chapter.22100:12:59,400 –> 00:13:01,080And so I’ve come to the conclusion that22200:13:01,280 –> 00:13:04,359the list is not talking simply about those who receive support,22300:13:04,559 –> 00:13:07,239but it is talking about something different.22400:13:07,440 –> 00:13:12,400Notice what the qualifications for being on this list are.22500:13:12,599 –> 00:13:14,599The first qualification is age.22600:13:15,200 –> 00:13:17,880Widows on the list must be over 60.22700:13:18,080 –> 00:13:20,520Very unusual to have a specific age22800:13:20,719 –> 00:13:23,960reference like that in the Bible, but you find it here.22900:13:24,159 –> 00:13:25,599Secondly, fidelity.23000:13:25,799 –> 00:13:28,880Person on the list must have been faithful to her husband.23100:13:29,080 –> 00:13:31,159Third, ministry.23200:13:31,359 –> 00:13:33,640Person on the list is someone well known23300:13:33,840 –> 00:13:36,640for good deeds, such as bringing up children,23400:13:36,840 –> 00:13:39,760showing hospitality, washing the feet of saints,23500:13:39,960 –> 00:13:43,679helping those in trouble, devoting herself to all kinds of deeds.23600:13:43,960 –> 00:13:46,799This is describing particularly a23700:13:47,000 –> 00:13:52,000believer who is seasoned in ministry.23800:13:52,200 –> 00:13:54,840And so it seems to me that although there may well be23900:13:55,039 –> 00:13:57,679overlap between the two groups that are described24000:13:57,880 –> 00:14:00,719earlier and later in 1 Timothy chapter 5,24100:14:00,919 –> 00:14:03,359that this list that Paul refers to24200:14:03,559 –> 00:14:05,840in verse 9 is not a register of people24300:14:06,039 –> 00:14:08,000who are receiving financial support.24400:14:08,200 –> 00:14:10,479It is, in fact, a list of people who24500:14:10,559 –> 00:14:13,359are devoting themselves to particular24600:14:13,559 –> 00:14:18,320forms of service within the Church.24700:14:18,520 –> 00:14:21,200Now that leads me to say this.24800:14:21,400 –> 00:14:23,880To all of us mature believers…24900:14:24,080 –> 00:14:29,119You realize I’m using a euphemism for over 60.25000:14:30,200 –> 00:14:33,719To all of us mature believers,25100:14:33,919 –> 00:14:37,559to those who have brought up children25200:14:37,780 –> 00:14:40,320and you’ve opened your home25300:14:40,919 –> 00:14:44,440and you’ve helped folks in trouble25400:14:44,679 –> 00:14:51,760and you have gained experience in maturity and you’re over 60.25500:14:53,159 –> 00:14:57,520Your experience is a gift25600:14:58,239 –> 00:15:07,000that you can offer into the hands of Christ for ministry in your golden years.25700:15:07,719 –> 00:15:12,520And I think that is what Paul is talking about here, particularly about a group of women25800:15:12,520 –> 00:15:16,880who did this and gave themselves to it in a dedicated way.25900:15:17,559 –> 00:15:20,520I want to take that theme and to expand it out26000:15:20,520 –> 00:15:27,599and for us to see the potential for ministry among mature believers26100:15:28,280 –> 00:15:32,599and for us to have a vision for that among us here.26200:15:33,479 –> 00:15:40,359In fact, all over our congregation, there are folks over the age of 6026300:15:41,239 –> 00:15:42,479who are already doing this.26400:15:44,440 –> 00:15:50,440Last Wednesday we had 5 teams of our people mostly retired,26500:15:51,559 –> 00:15:59,539along with some younger women, serving 22 guests who came into the church with various needs.26600:16:00,419 –> 00:16:04,500Our people listened to them, prayed with them,26700:16:05,619 –> 00:16:10,419helped them with clothing, with gift cards, for food and for gas.26800:16:11,940 –> 00:16:16,020I wish you could see every Thursday the team of men, mostly retired,26900:16:16,580 –> 00:16:20,979who serve here every week working on projects all over the building.27000:16:21,820 –> 00:16:27,700Their joy is infectious and their ministry is a gift from the Lord to all of us.27100:16:29,619 –> 00:16:31,219I could multiply examples.27200:16:33,460 –> 00:16:37,940But you know, just the other week I was talking to one of our over 60s in his home27300:16:39,380 –> 00:16:47,940and he said to me, he said, I want to know who it was that defined the American dream.27400:16:50,340 –> 00:16:53,380I want to know, he said. A guy over 60.27500:16:53,700 –> 00:16:59,780Who said that the American dream is to make enough money27600:17:01,380 –> 00:17:05,300so you can go off someplace with no responsibilities27700:17:05,780 –> 00:17:10,180and spend your golden years with no other interest but yourself?27800:17:10,660 –> 00:17:13,300Who said that? He said, it is not my dream!27900:17:14,260 –> 00:17:19,459Folks, we desperately need a redefinition of retirement.28000:17:20,260 –> 00:17:22,099And I want to offer one to you.28100:17:22,979 –> 00:17:28,500To retire is to get a new set of tires to28200:17:28,500 –> 00:17:31,699keep you rolling in the service of Jesus Christ.28300:17:31,699 –> 00:17:33,459That’s my definition of retirement.28400:17:34,979 –> 00:17:39,540And I want to encourage everyone in the congregation over 60 today,28500:17:39,540 –> 00:17:43,459get a new vision for your golden years,28600:17:43,459 –> 00:17:47,060as the most useful years that you can offer to Jesus Christ.28700:17:47,459 –> 00:17:54,099First, one man who had that vision is one of my heroes of the faith Allen Redpath.28800:17:55,699 –> 00:18:01,459He served as a pastor in London for some years and then came to28900:18:01,459 –> 00:18:04,500pastor the Moody church here in Chicago.29000:18:04,500 –> 00:18:06,420He was here for nine years.29100:18:07,619 –> 00:18:10,660Then he returned to Scotland and he became the pastor of29200:18:10,660 –> 00:18:15,219Charlotte Chapel, which is my home church in Edinburgh.29300:18:16,180 –> 00:18:21,619Redpath had been there for just two years when at the age of 5729400:18:23,219 –> 00:18:25,459he suffered a near fatal stroke.29500:18:27,300 –> 00:18:31,300That crisis led him into a deep deep depression,29600:18:32,979 –> 00:18:35,300but God met him there in a powerful way.29700:18:35,300 –> 00:18:40,900And after prolonged suffering, God gave him a remarkable recovery.29800:18:41,219 –> 00:18:46,260He returned to preaching at the chapel for only a short time,29900:18:46,260 –> 00:18:51,380and then he embarked on an itinerant ministry as a conference speaker.30000:18:53,140 –> 00:19:00,020My first memory of him was when he returned to the pulpit at Charlotte Chapel30100:19:00,020 –> 00:19:03,619after he had resigned from that ministry and had been traveling for a while.30200:19:04,819 –> 00:19:06,660I would have been just 10 years old.30300:19:07,380 –> 00:19:09,540It was a big occasion in the city.30400:19:09,540 –> 00:19:13,780Redpath was back for a Sunday and people came from all over to hear him.30500:19:13,780 –> 00:19:19,780The place was so packed on a Sunday evening that the children were asked,30600:19:19,780 –> 00:19:20,579can you imagine this?30700:19:20,579 –> 00:19:23,780The children were all asked to leave their seats30800:19:24,579 –> 00:19:28,739and to sit on the platform and on the steps going up to the pulpit30900:19:28,739 –> 00:19:32,900to make way for other people who were outside still wanting to come in31000:19:32,900 –> 00:19:35,859and as it happened the ushers were all moving us around.31100:19:35,859 –> 00:19:43,380I ended up at 10 years of age sitting on the second top step of the pulpit31200:19:43,380 –> 00:19:47,380literally at the feet of one of my heroes of the faith31300:19:48,579 –> 00:19:53,780listening to him speak, age 10 I was, about God’s work in his life.31400:19:55,699 –> 00:19:59,459Then when I was 17 I went to a Christian convention31500:20:00,099 –> 00:20:02,020at a place called Fuley in England.31600:20:02,020 –> 00:20:05,780There were thousands of Christians who came to this thing from all over the country31700:20:05,780 –> 00:20:07,699and there were many speakers there.31800:20:07,699 –> 00:20:12,020Every night these men would speak in one of the venues.31900:20:12,020 –> 00:20:16,739There were four or five different venues where you could attend an evening service32000:20:16,739 –> 00:20:18,660and I had my plan worked out.32100:20:19,219 –> 00:20:22,660I was there for a week and wherever Red Path was speaking32200:20:22,660 –> 00:20:24,339that was the place I went that night.32300:20:26,579 –> 00:20:34,819One night when he was speaking about God’s total self-giving to us32400:20:35,780 –> 00:20:37,780he said, and I picture it now32500:20:39,540 –> 00:20:44,420I have asked God for 10 more years32600:20:46,579 –> 00:20:50,339that I may live for Christ more fully than I have ever done before.32700:20:52,819 –> 00:20:55,859Red Path was 68 when he said that32800:20:57,780 –> 00:21:00,020and I was listening age 1732900:21:02,579 –> 00:21:03,780and I said that night33000:21:04,420 –> 00:21:08,739that’s what I want, that’s what I want.33100:21:11,060 –> 00:21:13,45910 more years33200:21:16,020 –> 00:21:21,699to live more fully for Jesus Christ than ever before.33300:21:23,619 –> 00:21:28,739Do you know the roots of what we do with our senior years33400:21:29,699 –> 00:21:34,819and our senior years lie in the vision we embrace when we are young?33500:21:36,819 –> 00:21:40,579So, I want to ask all who are younger than 60.33600:21:43,060 –> 00:21:44,739What’s your dream?33700:21:44,739 –> 00:21:47,540What are you actually living and working for?33800:21:50,819 –> 00:21:53,859What is it that you’re trying to get to?33900:21:54,739 –> 00:22:01,140What are you going to do with the years that you have before you see the Lord?34000:22:02,900 –> 00:22:10,099Do you know, God gave Alan, Redpath, his request and more, he lived for another 14 years34100:22:11,300 –> 00:22:14,819and then went to be with his savior in 1989, at the age of 82.34200:22:15,619 –> 00:22:24,09910 more years. To live for Christ more fully than ever before.34300:22:25,459 –> 00:22:29,699Folks that’s the gospel dream. Let’s live it together.34400:22:30,180 –> 00:22:33,619Pastor Colin there wrapping up the message, Gospel Compassion.34500:22:34,420 –> 00:22:38,239Part of our series 10 Distinctives of a Gospel-Centred Church,34600:22:38,420 –> 00:22:41,219you’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith34700:22:41,859 –> 00:22:45,540and if you’ve missed any of the series or if you want to go back and listen again34800:22:45,699 –> 00:22:48,180you can do that by coming online to our website34900:22:51,939 –> 00:22:57,859Or you can find us as a podcast on all the main podcast sites by searching for Open The Bible UK.35000:22:58,260 –> 00:23:01,260Open the Bible is supported by our listeners,35100:23:01,260 –> 00:23:05,140and if you already give to support our work, thank you so much.35200:23:05,140 –> 00:23:08,500If you’re considering beginning to support Open the Bible financially this month35300:23:09,060 –> 00:23:14,500we’d love to say thank you by sending you John Stott’s book The Incomparable Christ.35400:23:14,500 –> 00:23:17,699Here’s Open The Bible’s Amanda Cunningham to tell us about it.35500:23:18,099 –> 00:23:20,260Hi David, thanks so much for having me,35600:23:20,260 –> 00:23:27,939this month we’re really pleased to be giving away a wonderful book called The Incomparable Christ by John Stott.35700:23:28,420 –> 00:23:34,579Now whether someone realizes it or not, Jesus Christ has had an enormous impact on the world,35800:23:34,819 –> 00:23:40,660in fact for over 2000 years he has been the most influential person in human history,35900:23:40,660 –> 00:23:45,060but the really important question is this, who is Jesus?36000:23:45,859 –> 00:23:50,819In this book, Stott takes us on a fascinating journey to explore that question,36100:23:50,819 –> 00:23:56,260he looks at how the New Testament presents Jesus, how the Church has spoken about him through the36200:23:56,260 –> 00:24:01,219centuries and how people’s lives have been completely changed through encountering him.36300:24:01,939 –> 00:24:06,819What’s lovely about the book is that it’s thoughtful and rich but also very accessible.36400:24:07,380 –> 00:24:13,060Stott spent a lifetime studying the Bible and helping people understand the Person of Christ36500:24:13,060 –> 00:24:17,859and this book really brings together the fruit of that lifetime of reflection.36600:24:18,660 –> 00:24:23,780So during April we’d love to send you a copy of the incomparable Christ36700:24:23,780 –> 00:24:28,739as our way of saying thank you when you support the ministry of Open the Bible UK36800:24:29,380 –> 00:24:34,900if you give a one-off gift of £60 or you set up a new monthly gift of £536900:24:35,619 –> 00:24:41,780we’ll send the book to you your support helps us continue sharing clear faithful37000:24:41,780 –> 00:24:47,859Bible teaching across the UK and beyond and we are so grateful to you for your partnership37100:24:47,859 –> 00:24:53,219well the incomparable Christ is our gift to you when you set up a new direct debit of37200:24:53,219 –> 00:25:00,020£5 per month or more or a one-off gift of £60 or more this month full terms and37300:25:00,020 –> 00:25:06,579conditions are on our website and you can give online for Open the Bible and Pastor Colin Smith37400:25:06,579 –> 00:25:15,540I’m David Pick and I hope you’ll join us again next time37500:25:15,859 –> 00:25:18,819it’s37600:25:18,819 –> 00:25:25,140getting harder for churches to find pastors find out one reason for that next time on37700:25:25,140 –> 00:25:26,300Open the Bible